California is the First State to Start MMA Fighter Retirement Fund. Starts in 2024.

[Local Plata]

Totally. Just bring up CA and you get all of these bizarre responses from these people whose only experience is hearing from yokels and Fox news of this mythical evil place called California. They angrily spew all of these things they heard that are either outright false or totally slanting the truth. Look at some of the comments in these threads; they have no basis at all in reality and fact.

Yes, the bible belt not only is challenged, but they don't produce much for the country. Blue counties account for 70% of the US GDP, and that is a fact, and has been for a while. That is one that is hard to swallow for many.

You are exactly correct- demand drives price, and the reason people pay more to be here is people want to be here more- there are so many more opportunities here than most other places. This creates its share of problems with housing shortages and all, but these are hard facts of economics and business.

Biden-voting counties equal 70% of America's economy. What does this mean for the nation's political-economic divide? | Brookings

Nothing like family members living in the middle of nowhere midwest living on govt assistance telling me how CA is going bankrupt and the 'illegals' having taken over the state. "Bootstraps" states living on government welfare HATE california and new york because they are told to. There really is nothing more ridiculous than people relying on government programs to subsidize their entire existence ranting about the 'socialism' of successful states lmao.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

So you didn't read the bill, or even the articles that summarize the bill.

It's not a tax, its a flat surcharge on top of the ticket price (of $1.00) and does not go to the states general fund.

There's nothing in the bill that states the 'surcharge' will always be $1, only that it starts at $1, and given how the deflation of our currency it actually should be far more than $1.

Also, how many tickets to MMA events have been sold in California over the last decade? How many fighters are even halfway to meeting the requirements to qualify for the pension?

In 10+ years when retired fighters start receiving their pension checks, how much are they projected to receive?

re: UFC, its absurd to think they won't run events in California because tickets will have a surcharge equating <1% of their current price. They host events in California because its a major market and has the highest volume of millionaires in the country.

Millionaires who are perfectly willing and capable of traveling to Las Vegas to see fights, which explains the lack of MMA events in California.

The owners of the UFC (Silverlake and Endeavor) are both headquartered in California. FFS.

And... that's relevant how?

You can continue to avoid supporting pro-worker / pro-fighter initiatives by not moving to California.

Oh I lived in California, and there's a reason why I left and many more reasons on top of that its one of the absolute last places I'd ever move back to.

I'm actually VERY pro-fighter initiatives, but the plain and simple fact is politicians are self-interested cunts. If they don't get a benefit out of what they support then they don't support it.

 

[rjmbrd]

There's nothing in the bill that states the 'surcharge' will always be $1, only that it starts at $1

OK, so you don't understand how bills work?

Why are you commenting on this stuff if you don't fundamentally understand legislation?

Also, how many tickets to MMA events have been sold in California over the last decade?

Tapology lists 13 separate ticketed MMA events taking place in California just in the last 30 day period.

There are hundreds of MMA events in the state of California annually. What exactly is your point here, other than to accidentally highlight how popular MMA is in California, and tangentially the need for pro-fighter legislation?

How many fighters are even halfway to meeting the requirements to qualify for the pension?

Again, you didn't read the bill, or even articles that describe the bill (lazy lazy lazy)

The bill is not retroactive, so zero fighters are halfway to meeting the requirement.

In 10+ years when retired fighters start receiving their pension checks, how much are they projected to receive?

Since you are too lazy and uninformed to know, California is just repeating what they already instituted for boxing since 1999.

The California Professional Boxers' Pension Plan (the nations only state-admin retirement plan of its kind) has provided 235 retired fighters >$4 million dollars so far. The biggest challenge its faced is finding the vested boxers who still have not claimed their benefit.

Millionaires who are perfectly willing and capable of traveling to Las Vegas to see fights, which explains the lack of MMA events in California.

This is just made up bullshit, requires no rebuttal.

Oh I lived in California, and there's a reason why I left

Yes, you're bitter you cannot afford it and you moved somewhere with a lower cost of living. You shouldn't be ashamed of that, or have misdirected anger towards to the people who can afford it.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

OK, so you don't understand how bills work?

You didn't actually read the bill.

Tapology lists 13 separate ticketed MMA events taking place in California just in the last 30 day period.

There are hundreds of MMA events in the state of California annually. What exactly is your point here, other than to accidentally highlight how popular MMA is in California, and tangentially the need for pro-fighter legislation?

That's actually higher than I would have expected.

Again, you didn't read the bill, or even articles that describe the bill (lazy lazy lazy)

I read the OP twitter link.

Count on that $1 'surcharge' to raise, and it should, given the rate of deflation over the past few decades.

The bill is not retroactive, so zero fighters are halfway to meeting the requirement.

So California fighters that are in their 30s are pretty much fucked.

Since you are too lazy and uninformed to know, California is just repeating what they already instituted for boxing since 1999.

The California Professional Boxers' Pension Plan (the nations only state-admin retirement plan of its kind) has provided 235 retired fighters >$4 million dollars so far. The biggest challenge its faced is finding the vested boxers who still have not claimed their benefit.

If you've bothered to pay attention to politics over the years you'd know 'The biggest challenge its faced is finding the vested boxers who still have not claimed their benefit' is a bullshit talking point as to excuse their revenue being to high and the payouts being so low.

"Gee, I guess the boxers don't want free money.'

Yes, you're bitter you cannot afford it and you moved somewhere with a lower cost of living. You shouldn't be ashamed of that, or have misdirected anger towards to the people who can afford it.

Wrong. My rent was paid for my employer at the time. I'm referring to numerous other issues besides the cost of living.

Go ahead and take guesses.

 

[Blastbeat]

OK, so you don't understand how bills work?

Why are you commenting on this stuff if you don't fundamentally understand legislation?



Tapology lists 13 separate ticketed MMA events taking place in California just in the last 30 day period.

There are hundreds of MMA events in the state of California annually. What exactly is your point here, other than to accidentally highlight how popular MMA is in California, and tangentially the need for pro-fighter legislation?




Again, you didn't read the bill, or even articles that describe the bill (lazy lazy lazy)

The bill is not retroactive, so zero fighters are halfway to meeting the requirement.



Since you are too lazy and uninformed to know, California is just repeating what they already instituted for boxing since 1999.

The California Professional Boxers' Pension Plan (the nations only state-admin retirement plan of its kind) has provided 235 retired fighters >$4 million dollars so far. The biggest challenge its faced is finding the vested boxers who still have not claimed their benefit.




This is just made up bullshit, requires no rebuttal.




Yes, you're bitter you cannot afford it and you moved somewhere with a lower cost of living. You shouldn't be ashamed of that, or have misdirected anger towards to the people who can afford it.

bro as a native New Yorker i really am not sure how to feel about you defending California this hard.
BEAST coast and all that.

 

[barillas]

Nice, reparations, free goods from all retail stores, and now fighter retirement pay. Let's go Cali!

It's wonderland, huh?

 

[Lee_]

The same reason the UFC payouts are roughly 12% of the revenue, if not less now.

'Keep the fighters poor so they fight more.'



You really think 'its only a dollar or two?'

What if its an extra $10, or $25, or $50?

The simple fact the UFC is going to be visiting California even less now because they're going to be forced to charge even higher prices for seats that isn't going into their bank accounts, but California's state revenue.

Add to that, the more fights in California has a fighter, the less the UFC will offer for them to fight in California, and it wouldn't be surprising if a fighter within 3 fights of that pension would never be offered fights within California. This is just another means of manipulation.

As for California, it wouldn't be surprising whatsoever if this is mostly a means to increase tax revenue by taxing MMA ticket sales with the expectation there's only going to be a few fighters that will ever qualify for the pension, and it'll be a small percentage of the actual tax revenue the state receives.

Never assume politicians, especially Democrats, have pure intentions.

Again, there is all of this bizarre paranoia and negative slant for the mere fact your politics don't agree with CA. It doesn't change all of the imaginary changes that you make up here. The bill allocated for the ticket increases to be a certain price; if you want to fantasize a conspiracy that it is higher, that is your business, but the facts don't in any way support you.

Let start with this- you say you can never trust the Dems? I'll repeat myself- 100% of the CA legislature voted yes on this. There are far right legislators in CA, and 100% of them voted for this. t's not a myth no matter what tall tales you have heard on Fox news or your farming community- there are very conservative places in CA- it's true! Who do you think sent Devin Nunez to congress? Try to be a little informed Sherbro.

I love the way you totally ignored my post and continued with another weird conspiracy fantasy about it costing too much for the UFC because $2000 tickets are going to have 1-2 dollars added to them. lol OK

 

[Brettco]

California has more wealthy people than any Red State, by FAR. Sucks to be poor.

I didn't say anything about wealthy people. Why in the fuck would wealthy people be unhappy anywhere?

 

[Brettco]

"Hahaha" in other worlds you live in some shithole that cries about California to make up for this irrelevance.


Do you even understand how state issued debt works?
The US is the most indebted government in the world by far, do you think it is broke too?

It filed for bankruptcy so yes. I heard 33 trillion is 450k per US taxpayer. Imagine defending the government that is that irresponsible year after year.

 

[Brettco]

So, like, every red state?

CNN?

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Again, there is all of this bizarre paranoia and negative slant for the mere fact your politics don't agree with CA. It doesn't change all of the imaginary changes that you make up here.

Its more like I know politicians, and you don't.

You're not even curious as to how much revenue that '$1 surcharge per ticket' will generate over the course of 25+ years before the first MMA fighter hits 50 years old and qualifies for the pension.

You honestly think that money won't be spent on whatever the politicians want, trusting the future revenue will then be spent on the pensions so it won't be noticed?

Have you even bothered to ask yourself how much the monthly payouts will be?

So many unanswered questions, and you're trusting the integrity of politicians.

The bill allocated for the ticket increases to be a certain price; if you want to fantasize a conspiracy that it is higher, that is your business, but the facts don't in any way support you.

More like selective facts to manipulate the gullible.

The best liars don't state their real motives, they state the lies to manipulate the gullible to go along with it, to celebrate it and the politicians themselves.

Let start with this- you say you can never trust the Dems? I'll repeat myself- 100% of the CA legislature voted yes on this. There are far right legislators in CA, and 100% of them voted for this. t's not a myth no matter what tall tales you have heard on Fox news or your farming community- there are very conservative places in CA- it's true! Who do you think sent Devin Nunez to congress? Try to be a little informed Sherbro.

See above.

Conservatives, and their politicians, are often the ones most easily fooled.

I love the way you totally ignored my post and continued with another weird conspiracy fantasy about it costing too much for the UFC because $2000 tickets are going to have 1-2 dollars added to them. lol OK

$1? Or $2? Thought it was solidifed at $1, wasn't it?

I must have missed your post, but never the less I'm actually pro-fighters union to make such pensions nation-wide. I just know the political realities that MWE are balls-deep in, and politicians work in favor of corporations far more often than unions. Its all about whom pays them.

 

[jko1355]

WTF is this. Fighter needs 39 rounds in California to access money the promoter pays in. That's 13 fights.

This seems like a fishy money grab.. who keeps the interest generated from the retirement fund and what company is paid to manage it?

Find me a UFC fighter that's fought 13x in California. It's going to be a small list.

Is anyone in here familiar with how the boxing retirement fund works?

shhh... its altruistic... one of the politicians friends definitely doesn't manage the fund...

 

[ferrisjso]

It filed for bankruptcy so yes. I heard 33 trillion is 450k per US taxpayer. Imagine defending the government that is that irresponsible year after year.

Actually not spending is iresponsible. A governments job is to spend money on it's peoples well being.

Taxpayers aren't real. Any country with their own currency can spend unlimited unless restrained by real world resources. Politicans pretend they have restraints so people don't demand their socialist birthright.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

CNN?

Nah, I don't watch/read any news, cuz I don't have other people interpret sources for me, I just read the sources myself like studies done by the MIT Dept of Economics, Brookings Institution, Nobel Prize in Economic winners Anne Case and Angus Deaton, National Library of Medicine, Rockefeller Institute of Government, the Tax Foundation, and a fact check by the Associated Press (a wide spectrum of left and right leaning experts) who study/track direct numbers like federal aid, tax, spending, as well as trends in health and education.

So sorry you didn't get to use your acronym shortcut to try invalidate facts you don't like. You can still try of course, if you put in a valid effort, or you can just end your embarrassment here

 

[Lee_]

Its more like I know politicians, and you don't.

You're not even curious as to how much revenue that '$1 surcharge per ticket' will generate over the course of 25+ years before the first MMA fighter hits 50 years old and qualifies for the pension.

You honestly think that money won't be spent on whatever the politicians want, trusting the future revenue will then be spent on the pensions so it won't be noticed?

Have you even bothered to ask yourself how much the monthly payouts will be?

So many unanswered questions, and you're trusting the integrity of politicians.



More like selective facts to manipulate the gullible.

The best liars don't state their real motives, they state the lies to manipulate the gullible to go along with it, to celebrate it and the politicians themselves.



See above.

Conservatives, and their politicians, are often the ones most easily fooled.



$1? Or $2? Thought it was solidifed at $1, wasn't it?

I must have missed your post, but never the less I'm actually pro-fighters union to make such pensions nation-wide. I just know the political realities that MWE are balls-deep in, and politicians work in favor of corporations far more often than unions. Its all about whom pays them.

Well, I'm not going to argue with all of this bizarre paranoia, because arguing with the paranoid changes nothing; that's the whole point of paranoia- you believe it. The top claim of all paranoids is that others are just gullible and naive, and don't realize that the whole world is out to get them. Like your post.

What I can say is that a lot of things you are arguing are law- a fighter will have recourse if they go against it. As mentioned before in the thread, I have a CALPERS pension; therefore, you trying to school me on CA pensions is hilarious. You know nothing.

For example, the law states that fighter account money will stay in fighter accounts, and extra money will be divided. It isn't like the kind of appropriation where certain counties or cities have a choice of what to spend the allocated funds on.

I hope you don't hurt yourself with all of these unfounded fears and paranoid ideations; the world has its problems, but it isn't as bad as it seems to you. The boogie man doesn't infest every bush on the block.

A paste for you BTW if you haven't read the srticles-
For every ticket sold, $1 would go toward the MMA fighters' pension fund. A fighter would become vested between 12-14 fights, which is about 39 scheduled rounds at commission-regulated MMA events.

 

[Lee_]

bro as a native New Yorker i really am not sure how to feel about you defending California this hard.
BEAST coast and all that.

If you were a native Californian, you would understand.

 

[HeffDoesWant]

Good idea, I hope other states join it.

13 ufc fights is alot, but not that many mma fights if you start off in California.

Actually, there is nothing fishy about it. They need to have a high bar in terms of getting vested; if they let everyone in that fought a couple of fights in CA, they will not have a solvent system.

They will need the interest to keep the system solvent; that's the way retirement works. CALPERS is the main retirement system in CA and they get interest and capital from investing the money in the greater fund, which goes back in to keep the system solvent, which is probably the way this works or eventually will work. The fighters aren't actually paying into the fund as I'm seeing it, so a lot of other aspect of defined-benefit pensions wouldn't apply.

Tax payers are not paying for it unless they go to an event, in which case they will pay an extra dollar per show for NSAC events, not anything to complain about; they are doing fundraising to get more money, which is a great solution.

It's a small safety net to help fighters, I don't know why people want to see conspiracies in everything.

I can imagine the ufc increasing seats by $5 to cover the extra $1 going towards fighters.

Gotta protect their margins.

 

[Lee_]

Good idea, I hope other states join it.

13 ufc fights is alot, but not that many mma fights if you start off in California.




I can imagine the ufc increasing seats by $5 to cover the extra $1 going towards fighters.

Gotta protect their margins.

The extra dollar wouldn't be coming out of UFC revenue, but I could see Dana making something like that up. It's been so many years since I bought a PPV because they have been raised so many times.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

The extra dollar wouldn't be coming out of UFC revenue, but I could see Dana making something like that up. It's been so many years since I bought a PPV because they have been raised so many times.

Don't know of the potential interstate red tape, but I'd think a specific round number and flat rate would much more easily open the door for other states, so they're not basing it off a percentage of different state tax rates. Any state would have less hurdles to just collect an equal amount and expand the retirement eligibility range

 

[DapperDave]

Why don't people just work and earn money and save for their own retirement?

Y'know, self-reliant.

That's always a much better and much freer lifestyle than public-tit-reliant.